Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA Belize)
Why choose Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA Belize)?
Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA Belize), founded 2010, offers unique learning experience to students and professionals interested in moving out of their comfort zone. We offer internships, research, service learning projects, home stay opportunities, cultural immersions, and other field courses during summer and winter breaks. Students will experience new knowledge first hand through ...
Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA Belize), founded 2010, offers unique learning experience to students and professionals interested in moving out of their comfort zone. We offer internships, research, service learning projects, home stay opportunities, cultural immersions, and other field courses during summer and winter breaks. Students will experience new knowledge first hand through their field work and community service in Belize. These courses provide intensive, practical experience lessons that create powerful and meaningful learning. We support and deliver custom, faculty-led courses in partnership with colleges and universities throughout North America. Our staff is very creative and can connect local professors, community leaders, and business people to the courses, ...
Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA Belize) Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
Loved my experience
by: Freyja WilkinsProgram: One Health: Public Health in the TropicsOverall I loved my experience here. I got to meet with people from the communities and learn their perspective of what it means to heal people. This prgram also allowed me to solidify my career choice of wanting to become a nurse, which I am extremely grateful for.
Amazing people/friendships
by: Alexis EstesProgram: One Health: Public Health in the TropicsI learned so many important and new things about healthcare in Belize. This program provided many unique experiences I could not have gotten anywhere else. I also got to meet many amazing people and form new friendships.
Large animal program = amazing
by: Kelsie HortonProgram: Large Animal Veterinary Practice in the TropicsThe large animal program was amazing, I was able to connect with the doctor and learn a lot more issues concerning animals in this country. I recommend this program to vet students. Amazing hands on experience.
Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA Belize) Programs
Browse programs you might like
Enhance your chances for vet school with an intensive, hands-on, veterinary study program in Belize. Find yourself immersed in large animal veter...
This 2-week course is designed for undergraduate students with an interest in wildlife from a pre-veterinary, biology, or conservation perspectiv...
Our faculty-led custom group trips are planned months in advance with great attention to detail and meaningful activities based on the group's fo...
Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation is an exciting hands-on field course that combines studies in terrestrial riparian ecology with marine e...
This four-week field course explores the intersections of economics, health, medicine, and social development in the tropics—with Belize as the f...
Join the research team at the Crocodile Research Coalition (CRC) to collect and analyze data, a critical step needed to protect the Placencia Lag...
Interviews
Read interviews from alumni or staff
Nancy Adamson
Interviewed in 2014
Nancy has 25 years of work in higher education under her belt, from university administration to Provost and President! She’s also a registered nurse!
Nancy Adamson
Interviewed in 2014
What inspired you to travel abroad?
Your programs focus strongly on their best feature – the fact that they are located in stunning Belize! Programs incorporate Belize’s natural beauty and resources. What is your favorite feature of Belize?
Cristina Coc
Interviewed in 2014
Cristina Coc has been an activist for Maya Land Rights and forest conservation since 2003. She has worked directly, over the last 10 years, with the M...
Cristina Coc
Interviewed in 2014
What inspired you to travel abroad?
The first step to establishing a service learning program in Toledo where over half the population is of Maya heritage, is to recognize where a mutually beneficial partnership can be forged. Being able to determine whether or not the partners engaged in service learning have a common goal where one can learn from the experience to better improve their own development, but also provide service to a community in rural Toledo and meet a need that enhances the community well being. Making a suitable match requires that there is a common understanding of the community, its cultural and customary values and way of life, and at the same time understanding the expectation of service learning groups/students, their areas of interest, and expertise.
Filiberto Penados
Interviewed in 2014
Dr. Filiberto Penados, from the village of San Jose Succotz, Cayo, Belize, is an indigenous studies and education scholar and community activist. He c...
Filiberto Penados
Interviewed in 2014
What inspired you to travel abroad?
Well, first of all it is important to note that there are some key underlying elements to our philosophy. The first is that local communities have a wealth of intellectual, material and cultural resources that are or can be mobilized to achieve sustainable well being, and that they know best what well being means to them and should be the ones defining both the pace and direction. Two, that they are engaged in actions that are already pursuing their well being. That sustainability in addition to the conventional focus on environment needs to build on the assets and actions already in process and respond to the aspirations of values of the community. Three, that our engagement with communities needs to be sustained over time and not be a one-time action. It must be based on a long-term partnership. Otherwise, while the specific can be fun and produce the most amazing learning experience for our students it may contribute very little to local communities.
Recognitions
Check out awards and recognitions Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA Belize) has received
